How NOT to Answer a Reading Comprehension Question

How NOT to Answer a Reading Comprehension Question.

­To succeed in the GMAT Reading Comprehension, you should avoid certain common mistakes that can lead to incorrect answers or low scores. Here's how not to answer a GMAT Reading Comprehension questions:

Taking No Interest: This is one of the prime causes of the failures in GMAT/GRE Reading Comprehension. You are reading the text but not taking any interest and not understanding the story being told in the passage. Blindly reading and not understanding the context leads to the wrong/trap answer choices and ultimately to a low RC score on the test. Always take an interest and try to be friend with the author of the passage and with the story in the passage.

Going out of scope: Don't answer RC questions based on pre-existing knowledge. The GMAT assesses your ability to comprehend the provided text, so your answers should be derived from the passage itself and not from your personal knowledge of the topic. Don't let your personal opinions or beliefs influence your answers. GMAT questions are objective, and your responses should be based on the passage's content.

Rushing and Skimming: Don't skim or speed-read the passage. You are a human, not a robot. GMAT passages can be complex, so take your time to understand the main ideas and details. Skimming can lead to misunderstandings and mistakes. Skimming has an especially multifold effect if you are a non-native speaker of the English language. Take EXTRA CARE in that case.

Un-educated Guessing: Don't guess without reading the passage thoroughly. It's essential to understand the context to answer accurately. GMAT questions are designed to test your comprehension skills, not your guessing or approximation skills, so educated guesses should be a last resort.

Neglecting the Author's Tone: The tone of the passage and the author's attitude toward the subject matter can be essential. Don't disregard it, as it can help you eliminate answer choices or select the most appropriate one. If you are neglecting the tone of the passage or author, you are likely to miss at least one question in the passage.

Ignoring Keywords: Pay special attention to specific keywords in the question and the passage. These words can help you identify relevant information and navigate the passage effectively. Keywords are essential to assess the tone of the passage and help find the extreme answer choices in the question.

Overthinking: Sometimes the answer is simpler than you might expect. Don't overanalyze or overthink to find hidden meanings. Sometimes, the correct answer is a direct, clear response to the question explicitly written in the passage.

Echoing the Passage: While your answer should be grounded in the passage, don't merely rephrase or repeat what the passage says. You should demonstrate understanding by integrating information or drawing inferences.

Changing Answers Unnecessarily: Some overthinkers and low-confident students often do this in the exam. Avoid changing your answer unless you are confident that your initial choice is incorrect. Otherwise, your first instinct is correct in most cases.

Not Managing Time: Don't spend too much time on a single question, not more than 3 minutes in any case. GMAT is a timed test, so ensure your allocation of time wisely for each question. You are not supposed to get every question correct.

Focusing Exclusively on Details: This is a time-killer strategy to focus on the details given in the passage. You will be wasting your time the majority of the cases for nothing. While details matter, the GMAT also tests your ability to grasp the big picture. Don't neglect the main idea or overall structure of the passage.

Not Practicing: Many overconfident students do this. Reading Comprehension skills can be improved with practice. If you don't practice regularly, you may not develop the necessary strategies for tackling GMAT/GRE RC questions effectively.

Bottomline: Remember that the GMAT Reading Comprehension section is about understanding the passage and applying critical thinking skills to answer questions accurately. By avoiding these common pitfalls and practicing regularly, you can improve your performance in this section.

Good Luck!